Mark 3:5-8
Jesus was angry as he looked around
at the people. Yet he felt sorry for them because they were so
stubborn. Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his
bad hand was healed.
The Pharisees left. And right away they started making plans with Herod’s followers to kill Jesus.
Jesus
led his disciples down to the shore of the lake. Large crowds followed
him from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. People came from Idumea, as well
as other places east of the Jordan River. They also came from the
region around the cities of Tyre and Sidon. All of these crowds came
because they had heard what Jesus was doing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When
I was growing up, my daddy and my Mam-ma Polly had a saying, “Tend to
your own rat killin’!” What they meant was, “Mind your own business, do
what you know is right, and don’t worry about what the other guy
thinks.” My mother also had a favorite saying in her last years…”You
can’t fix stupid.” I know these may not be the nicest things to say…but
at face value, they do hold a lot of truth.
I could not help but
think of both of these phrases as I read today’s scripture passage. On
the one hand, Jesus had demonstrated His power in both word and
deed…and there were still some who simply refused to believe Him. The Book of Mark
tells us that this angered Jesus…but it also saddened Him. On the other
hand, people were rumbling and grumbling about Jesus’ miracles…doubting
His authenticity - and even making plans to kill Him. And Jesus
just “went on with His rat killin’!” He continued to minister to those
who came to Him…to heal those who trusted and believed in His power and
sovereignty.
What does this mean for you and me? Every day, we
encounter people who, at best, do not agree with us on some level…and
some who do not believe in Jesus or the faith in Him that we
demonstrate. We are questioned, doubted, challenged…and sometimes mocked
or ridiculed. We can get angry…and even stoop to the level of those
who would argue with us. Or we can rely on God’s strength, stay in
communication with the Holy Spirit…and “tend to our rat killin’!” We
can go about our day doing what God has told us to do…sharing the love,
grace power and mercy of Jesus Christ with others…and let God handle the
rest.
Thankfully, the chances that you or I might be killed for
our faith are slim to none. But there may be some lonely, hurtful,
frustrating days/weeks/months/years. Do not be discouraged. Remember
this passage from Mark 3. Take heart that you can’t fix everyone – and
you’re not supposed to. You are simply to tend to the business and
ministries of Jesus – and give Him room to do the heavy lifting. Are
you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label doing what God asks of us. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doing what God asks of us. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 15, 2016
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have not written a devotional in a few days now. On Tuesday morning, January 12th, just before noon, my mother left this earthly home to be with Jesus. My “sisters” - Suzanne, Janet, and Suzanne - and I, our beloved cousin, Janette, and Mom’s husband, Lee, were all with her. Even though she had been leaving us for several days…when the appointed time came, she soared away rather abruptly - with little warning, and no fanfare. I noticed her breathing change and said to my stepsister, Suzanne, who is a nurse, “I think she is leaving”…and she nodded in agreement. Less than two minutes later, the gates of Heaven opened, and the angels ushered my mother into the presence of Jesus Christ – and my dad, brother, and all of her loved ones who were surely there to greet her.
It must have been one heckuva party…and I’m more than a little jealous! My mother’s words echoed in my head as Timothy told me later, “I wish we could go to heaven, too.” Mother would say, “You will…when it’s time. But you still have work to do here!” Ever the pragmatist, Mother was realistic and practical – almost to a fault.
But in her last days, my mother left me with some parting pearls of wisdom. As I tearfully held her on the couch one evening, she asked about my mother-in-law, who just buried her middle son 12 days ago. I told her she was doing well, and Mother said, “She is a strong woman.” “You are a strong woman, too,” I reminded her…and she replied, “There’s no other way to be.” Mother also told me that Greg and I have a lot to process…and we do…but she insisted that she knew we would be okay – that we would get through all of this. And thankfully, her last lucid statement to me was…”I love you so much.” I told her, “I love you, too, Mommy.” After that, she smiled at me a few times, but she drifted into a semi-conscious state and waited for her ticket to heaven to be punched.
The second my mother left us, her face took on a peaceful appearance. It was unlike any I have ever encountered in my previous experiences with a death. She was Home…she was whole…and all was well. The peace that came over me was inexplicable…that “peace that passes understanding.” But I knew that all truly was well…that God had once again answered our prayers and fixed the things that we could not…and that He had given my mother the greatest gift of all…a seat at Jesus’ feet for all Eternity.
Countless people have commented to me in recent days about what they perceive as my amazing strength. I would say to you that none of this is me…and I have had plenty of “moments” where you would not see one ounce of poise and confidence in my demeanor. But as much as this passage from Philippians was one of my mother’s favorites…it is mine, as well. In a profound way, I have learned to “let go and let God”…to quit worrying…to fear nothing…to BELIEVE what God has promised, and to let Him meet my needs and comfort me. And He has…He IS! As my mother said a few days ago, “There’s no other way to be.”
I also watched my mother comfort and encourage others in her last days. She smiled at nurses and aides and thanked them genuinely for their care. She prayed with relatives who came to say “Good-bye” and charged them to accomplish certain goals in their lives moving forward. Mother ministered to us as a family and brought us closer together in many instances. She served God faithfully until the very last minute.
My question for all of us today is this…”Will we be able to say the same thing when our ‘ticket’ is punched?” Is God’s peace keeping your heart and thoughts quiet as you make your way through the day? When the angels come for you, will you have accomplished all that God set out for you to complete?
Make this the day that you figure out what is really important…and what is just filling your day. Determine what you need to let go of…and what God is calling you to do with the time you have left - whether it is one day or decades. Release your worries and fears…and operate in His peace. There truly is “no other way to be.”
©2016 Debbie Robus
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have not written a devotional in a few days now. On Tuesday morning, January 12th, just before noon, my mother left this earthly home to be with Jesus. My “sisters” - Suzanne, Janet, and Suzanne - and I, our beloved cousin, Janette, and Mom’s husband, Lee, were all with her. Even though she had been leaving us for several days…when the appointed time came, she soared away rather abruptly - with little warning, and no fanfare. I noticed her breathing change and said to my stepsister, Suzanne, who is a nurse, “I think she is leaving”…and she nodded in agreement. Less than two minutes later, the gates of Heaven opened, and the angels ushered my mother into the presence of Jesus Christ – and my dad, brother, and all of her loved ones who were surely there to greet her.
It must have been one heckuva party…and I’m more than a little jealous! My mother’s words echoed in my head as Timothy told me later, “I wish we could go to heaven, too.” Mother would say, “You will…when it’s time. But you still have work to do here!” Ever the pragmatist, Mother was realistic and practical – almost to a fault.
But in her last days, my mother left me with some parting pearls of wisdom. As I tearfully held her on the couch one evening, she asked about my mother-in-law, who just buried her middle son 12 days ago. I told her she was doing well, and Mother said, “She is a strong woman.” “You are a strong woman, too,” I reminded her…and she replied, “There’s no other way to be.” Mother also told me that Greg and I have a lot to process…and we do…but she insisted that she knew we would be okay – that we would get through all of this. And thankfully, her last lucid statement to me was…”I love you so much.” I told her, “I love you, too, Mommy.” After that, she smiled at me a few times, but she drifted into a semi-conscious state and waited for her ticket to heaven to be punched.
The second my mother left us, her face took on a peaceful appearance. It was unlike any I have ever encountered in my previous experiences with a death. She was Home…she was whole…and all was well. The peace that came over me was inexplicable…that “peace that passes understanding.” But I knew that all truly was well…that God had once again answered our prayers and fixed the things that we could not…and that He had given my mother the greatest gift of all…a seat at Jesus’ feet for all Eternity.
Countless people have commented to me in recent days about what they perceive as my amazing strength. I would say to you that none of this is me…and I have had plenty of “moments” where you would not see one ounce of poise and confidence in my demeanor. But as much as this passage from Philippians was one of my mother’s favorites…it is mine, as well. In a profound way, I have learned to “let go and let God”…to quit worrying…to fear nothing…to BELIEVE what God has promised, and to let Him meet my needs and comfort me. And He has…He IS! As my mother said a few days ago, “There’s no other way to be.”
I also watched my mother comfort and encourage others in her last days. She smiled at nurses and aides and thanked them genuinely for their care. She prayed with relatives who came to say “Good-bye” and charged them to accomplish certain goals in their lives moving forward. Mother ministered to us as a family and brought us closer together in many instances. She served God faithfully until the very last minute.
My question for all of us today is this…”Will we be able to say the same thing when our ‘ticket’ is punched?” Is God’s peace keeping your heart and thoughts quiet as you make your way through the day? When the angels come for you, will you have accomplished all that God set out for you to complete?
Make this the day that you figure out what is really important…and what is just filling your day. Determine what you need to let go of…and what God is calling you to do with the time you have left - whether it is one day or decades. Release your worries and fears…and operate in His peace. There truly is “no other way to be.”
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 20, 2013
Psalm 37:4
Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On Sundays, we usually take Timothy and Zola to lunch after church at a local fast-food restaurant. We’ve figured out that the kids are more interested in the “atmosphere” and the people in the restaurant (and the toys in their meal!) than they are in eating their actual food. So we have started ordering one child’s meal for them to share – plus an extra drink. Even at that, neither child ate much last Sunday, and we ended up taking their lunch home for them to finish later. This did not stop Timothy from asking for ice cream. We are making an effort to support the children’s parents in not giving them dessert if they don’t eat their main meal… so the answer was “Not today.”
Here’s the thing… we would walk across hot coals for our little ones. We would never fail to meet their needs…to see that they are fed, clothed, clean, protected, and healthy. But there are things we can – and will – do for them that go above and beyond their necessities… as rewards for good behavior. This is not a way to selfishly control the children. We are teaching them that positive actions and constructive efforts will be rewarded. And this is the message for us in Psalm 37:4.
God loves us. He wants us to succeed… to be healthy, happy, safe, fed, clothed, and protected. But He has SO much more that He wants to give us… if only we will listen, obey, and serve as He has commanded. When we begin to operate fully in doing what the LORD wants, the rewards sometimes flow so abundantly that we cannot even tie them directly to a specific thing we have said or done. Do not misunderstand me… I’m not necessarily speaking of tangible gifts that we can see, touch and feel. I’m talking about the subtle blessings, like joy and peace in your heart that comes from knowing that you helped someone else… did the right thing… or served when you really didn’t feel like doing so.
If you really want to experience your heart’s desire, do what the LORD wants…not expecting Him to bless you, but because you want to serve Him – because you are grateful for all He provides, and you love Him. The amazing part of this is that you will not only receive blessings, joy and peace… but you may actually be God’s vessel to deliver these rewards to someone else! Now that will truly give you your heart’s desire!
When we start to consciously ask God to show us what He wants… and act on the answers He gives us… this becomes second nature. Soon, our selfish motives and desires take a backseat to God’s plans… and we begin to operate in His abundance - His peace and joy. I don’t know about you, but these are pretty near the top of my list of “heart’s desires”… they are my “ice cream after lunch” - and I’m ready to do whatever I can to acquire them. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On Sundays, we usually take Timothy and Zola to lunch after church at a local fast-food restaurant. We’ve figured out that the kids are more interested in the “atmosphere” and the people in the restaurant (and the toys in their meal!) than they are in eating their actual food. So we have started ordering one child’s meal for them to share – plus an extra drink. Even at that, neither child ate much last Sunday, and we ended up taking their lunch home for them to finish later. This did not stop Timothy from asking for ice cream. We are making an effort to support the children’s parents in not giving them dessert if they don’t eat their main meal… so the answer was “Not today.”
Here’s the thing… we would walk across hot coals for our little ones. We would never fail to meet their needs…to see that they are fed, clothed, clean, protected, and healthy. But there are things we can – and will – do for them that go above and beyond their necessities… as rewards for good behavior. This is not a way to selfishly control the children. We are teaching them that positive actions and constructive efforts will be rewarded. And this is the message for us in Psalm 37:4.
God loves us. He wants us to succeed… to be healthy, happy, safe, fed, clothed, and protected. But He has SO much more that He wants to give us… if only we will listen, obey, and serve as He has commanded. When we begin to operate fully in doing what the LORD wants, the rewards sometimes flow so abundantly that we cannot even tie them directly to a specific thing we have said or done. Do not misunderstand me… I’m not necessarily speaking of tangible gifts that we can see, touch and feel. I’m talking about the subtle blessings, like joy and peace in your heart that comes from knowing that you helped someone else… did the right thing… or served when you really didn’t feel like doing so.
If you really want to experience your heart’s desire, do what the LORD wants…not expecting Him to bless you, but because you want to serve Him – because you are grateful for all He provides, and you love Him. The amazing part of this is that you will not only receive blessings, joy and peace… but you may actually be God’s vessel to deliver these rewards to someone else! Now that will truly give you your heart’s desire!
When we start to consciously ask God to show us what He wants… and act on the answers He gives us… this becomes second nature. Soon, our selfish motives and desires take a backseat to God’s plans… and we begin to operate in His abundance - His peace and joy. I don’t know about you, but these are pretty near the top of my list of “heart’s desires”… they are my “ice cream after lunch” - and I’m ready to do whatever I can to acquire them. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 12, 2013
April 12 ~ Exodus 4:10-17
Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A lot of Bible scholars believe that Moses stuttered. I KNOW! The man who said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” had a speech impediment! So when God commanded Him to lead the Israelites, this was his excuse for not stepping up to the plate. And God’s answer was, in essence, “Okay then… I’ll tell you what to say, and you have your brother, Aaron, say it for you!” You cannot outsmart God!
You and I have all sorts of excuses for not taking on any number of projects or tasks… some God-designed, and some created by mere mortals. You might even say that more than a few of us have become fairly expert at tossing around excuses. We’ve covered our tracks and bowed out of agreements and commitments for so long that we don’t even have to think about it these days…our justifications simply roll right off the tongue! And a few of them might work with regular folk. We might be able to talk our way out of serving on a committee or going to a party that we don’t care to attend. We can probably come up with a “good enough” reason for skipping a workout or eating that extra slice of pie. And everyone might have a good laugh over it… as in “I’m not fat… I’m just short for my height!”
But I’m willing to bet that God has nudged you to do something at least once or twice in your life, and you have made excuses to Him. Maybe He has whispered, “You need to call Tom or Sue…” and you said, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “I’ll do it later.” Perhaps God has created an opportunity for you to witness to someone and share the Good News of Jesus Christ… and you “froze” and reasoned that “I might embarrass this person,” or “This is not really the time and place…” Or maybe God has convicted your heart that what you are participating in – physically or verbally – is wrong, but you continued, with the defense that you would rather not risk ridicule, call attention to yourself, or suffer a temporary embarrassment.
Like I said, we all have our reasons for the things we do… and most of us feel fairly confident that they are sound. But we haven’t asked God what He thinks, because deep down, we know that there are a lot of holes in our alibis… our explanations are fairly flimsy… and our excuses are exactly that - a dodge and deception. We can make all of the apologies in the world… as if that makes the situation better or more plausible. But at the end of the day, God knows the truth. And if you care anything at all about what God thinks of you… or what He knows about you… then you have to admit that our excuses are completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
When God calls us to do something, we need to be front and center – asking “Where, when, and how?” We need to fully believe that whatever God calls us to do…He will equip us to handle. He may send an “Aaron” to help us… or He may provide us with strength and abilities we had no idea we possessed (and didn’t without Supernatural assistance!). Regardless of how the tasks are accomplished, we must be ready and willing to accept God’s assignments. What about you? Are you ready to step up – and out – for God… or are you still busy making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A lot of Bible scholars believe that Moses stuttered. I KNOW! The man who said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” had a speech impediment! So when God commanded Him to lead the Israelites, this was his excuse for not stepping up to the plate. And God’s answer was, in essence, “Okay then… I’ll tell you what to say, and you have your brother, Aaron, say it for you!” You cannot outsmart God!
You and I have all sorts of excuses for not taking on any number of projects or tasks… some God-designed, and some created by mere mortals. You might even say that more than a few of us have become fairly expert at tossing around excuses. We’ve covered our tracks and bowed out of agreements and commitments for so long that we don’t even have to think about it these days…our justifications simply roll right off the tongue! And a few of them might work with regular folk. We might be able to talk our way out of serving on a committee or going to a party that we don’t care to attend. We can probably come up with a “good enough” reason for skipping a workout or eating that extra slice of pie. And everyone might have a good laugh over it… as in “I’m not fat… I’m just short for my height!”
But I’m willing to bet that God has nudged you to do something at least once or twice in your life, and you have made excuses to Him. Maybe He has whispered, “You need to call Tom or Sue…” and you said, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “I’ll do it later.” Perhaps God has created an opportunity for you to witness to someone and share the Good News of Jesus Christ… and you “froze” and reasoned that “I might embarrass this person,” or “This is not really the time and place…” Or maybe God has convicted your heart that what you are participating in – physically or verbally – is wrong, but you continued, with the defense that you would rather not risk ridicule, call attention to yourself, or suffer a temporary embarrassment.
Like I said, we all have our reasons for the things we do… and most of us feel fairly confident that they are sound. But we haven’t asked God what He thinks, because deep down, we know that there are a lot of holes in our alibis… our explanations are fairly flimsy… and our excuses are exactly that - a dodge and deception. We can make all of the apologies in the world… as if that makes the situation better or more plausible. But at the end of the day, God knows the truth. And if you care anything at all about what God thinks of you… or what He knows about you… then you have to admit that our excuses are completely ridiculous and unacceptable.
When God calls us to do something, we need to be front and center – asking “Where, when, and how?” We need to fully believe that whatever God calls us to do…He will equip us to handle. He may send an “Aaron” to help us… or He may provide us with strength and abilities we had no idea we possessed (and didn’t without Supernatural assistance!). Regardless of how the tasks are accomplished, we must be ready and willing to accept God’s assignments. What about you? Are you ready to step up – and out – for God… or are you still busy making excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 9, 2013
Acts 24:24-26
A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ. As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him. “That’s enough for today. I’ll call you back when it’s convenient.” At the same time he was secretly hoping that Paul would offer him a substantial bribe. These conversations were repeated frequently.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We don’t give little kids enough credit… they are often smarter than we think! So when Timothy begins to get sleepy and feels a nap coming on, he will often “suddenly” become very thirsty or hungry… he will need to switch activities… or he will have some sort of meltdown. In his own way, things have gotten a little too close for comfort, and he is dismissing us. Naps are incredibly inconvenient when you have planned a whole day of play!
By the same token, my grandmother had a way of dismissing me when things got uncomfortable. She would change the subject or make excuses. Until the idea somehow shifted and became hers, many conversations were “tabled” or dropped altogether. One that comes to mind is the decision to move to an Assisted Living Facility. When we made our first “tour,” she found all sorts of reasons that this was not a good fit for her… and she said that she was not going. A little over a month later, she phoned me one day and asked, “What do you think about me moving to the Assisted Living Facility?”
What does all of this have to do with our Christian faith? I believe we can take away two “lessons” from this passage. First, we must recognize that we make excuses all the time for not fully hearing from God. It’s like when my doctor says, “Women of your age need to pay attention to XYZ”… I often hear him selectively! If he is suggesting I lose a few pounds and I really didn’t want to hear what I already knew, I gloss over it. When he looks at blemishes on my skin and declares them a normal part of aging, I don’t like hearing the translation that “you’re not as young as you once were!”
And when God speaks to us – through scripture, prayer, daily circumstances – or even a friend or family member – and says, “That is not what you should be doing,” or “Your words and actions are not appropriate,” or “I need you to change direction and do XYZ,” we often find the conversation uncomfortable and dismiss the messenger! In essence, we say, “That’s enough for today. I’ll call you back when it’s convenient!” And like Felix, we secretly hope that God (or the doctor) will say, “Never mind...it’s okay. Carry on as usual, and I’ll take care of everything!”
Additionally, I believe that as we witness to others and serve as Christ’s disciples, we must understand that many of the people we encounter already have their “guns loaded” and an “arsenal” of excuses. And we have to learn to be patient and trust God for opportunities to work. Notice the last sentence of this scripture passage, which says… “These conversations were repeated frequently.” This tells me that Paul did not fold up his tent and go home. He also didn’t badger. He simply kept showing up… sharing the message of Jesus Christ in words and actions… then he waited and gave God room to work.
Where are you in this picture? Are you making excuses to God? Has your relationship with Him grown a little uncomfortable? Have you dismissed Him – if only for what you consider to be a temporary separation? What about your Christian witness to others… are you patient? Do you cram your ideas and your desire for them to live in a certain manner down their throats, so to speak? In other words… are you pushy? Or do you gently demonstrate love and care… and give others an example of Christ-like living that leaves them saying, “I want some of what he/she has!”?
In the end, whether we are on giving or receiving end of Christian witness… we all have frequent excuses for how we behave and react. And amazingly… somehow…God is gentle, patient and loving with us, even though we must thoroughly exasperate Him every day! God is never pushy… but He isn’t a pushover, either! We need to spend some time in prayer and soul-searching. We need to discover where we truly are in our relationship with Him. Are we making excuses… and do we have different expectations for others? Do we see that our behavior is essentially the same as that of the ones we hope to reach for Jesus? Isn’t it time to get rid of the excuses… to risk feeling uncomfortable for a brief time in order to come out stronger in the end?
Just as a short nap refreshes a toddler for more hours of play… and a life-changing decision to move into a home that offers much-needed continual care can be the right choice… we can discover that ditching our excuses and literally taking a “leap of faith” has rewards and blessings far beyond what we could ever have imagined. Not only can exercising patience, love, prayer and perseverance as we witness to others honor Jesus and His teachings… these behaviors can also build our Christian character. Isn’t it time to get right with God and to learn to listen to Him – in your own life and in your Christian witness? Will you step out and live/serve in faith… or are you already devising your next excuse?
©2013 Debbie Robus
A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ. As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him. “That’s enough for today. I’ll call you back when it’s convenient.” At the same time he was secretly hoping that Paul would offer him a substantial bribe. These conversations were repeated frequently.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We don’t give little kids enough credit… they are often smarter than we think! So when Timothy begins to get sleepy and feels a nap coming on, he will often “suddenly” become very thirsty or hungry… he will need to switch activities… or he will have some sort of meltdown. In his own way, things have gotten a little too close for comfort, and he is dismissing us. Naps are incredibly inconvenient when you have planned a whole day of play!
By the same token, my grandmother had a way of dismissing me when things got uncomfortable. She would change the subject or make excuses. Until the idea somehow shifted and became hers, many conversations were “tabled” or dropped altogether. One that comes to mind is the decision to move to an Assisted Living Facility. When we made our first “tour,” she found all sorts of reasons that this was not a good fit for her… and she said that she was not going. A little over a month later, she phoned me one day and asked, “What do you think about me moving to the Assisted Living Facility?”
What does all of this have to do with our Christian faith? I believe we can take away two “lessons” from this passage. First, we must recognize that we make excuses all the time for not fully hearing from God. It’s like when my doctor says, “Women of your age need to pay attention to XYZ”… I often hear him selectively! If he is suggesting I lose a few pounds and I really didn’t want to hear what I already knew, I gloss over it. When he looks at blemishes on my skin and declares them a normal part of aging, I don’t like hearing the translation that “you’re not as young as you once were!”
And when God speaks to us – through scripture, prayer, daily circumstances – or even a friend or family member – and says, “That is not what you should be doing,” or “Your words and actions are not appropriate,” or “I need you to change direction and do XYZ,” we often find the conversation uncomfortable and dismiss the messenger! In essence, we say, “That’s enough for today. I’ll call you back when it’s convenient!” And like Felix, we secretly hope that God (or the doctor) will say, “Never mind...it’s okay. Carry on as usual, and I’ll take care of everything!”
Additionally, I believe that as we witness to others and serve as Christ’s disciples, we must understand that many of the people we encounter already have their “guns loaded” and an “arsenal” of excuses. And we have to learn to be patient and trust God for opportunities to work. Notice the last sentence of this scripture passage, which says… “These conversations were repeated frequently.” This tells me that Paul did not fold up his tent and go home. He also didn’t badger. He simply kept showing up… sharing the message of Jesus Christ in words and actions… then he waited and gave God room to work.
Where are you in this picture? Are you making excuses to God? Has your relationship with Him grown a little uncomfortable? Have you dismissed Him – if only for what you consider to be a temporary separation? What about your Christian witness to others… are you patient? Do you cram your ideas and your desire for them to live in a certain manner down their throats, so to speak? In other words… are you pushy? Or do you gently demonstrate love and care… and give others an example of Christ-like living that leaves them saying, “I want some of what he/she has!”?
In the end, whether we are on giving or receiving end of Christian witness… we all have frequent excuses for how we behave and react. And amazingly… somehow…God is gentle, patient and loving with us, even though we must thoroughly exasperate Him every day! God is never pushy… but He isn’t a pushover, either! We need to spend some time in prayer and soul-searching. We need to discover where we truly are in our relationship with Him. Are we making excuses… and do we have different expectations for others? Do we see that our behavior is essentially the same as that of the ones we hope to reach for Jesus? Isn’t it time to get rid of the excuses… to risk feeling uncomfortable for a brief time in order to come out stronger in the end?
Just as a short nap refreshes a toddler for more hours of play… and a life-changing decision to move into a home that offers much-needed continual care can be the right choice… we can discover that ditching our excuses and literally taking a “leap of faith” has rewards and blessings far beyond what we could ever have imagined. Not only can exercising patience, love, prayer and perseverance as we witness to others honor Jesus and His teachings… these behaviors can also build our Christian character. Isn’t it time to get right with God and to learn to listen to Him – in your own life and in your Christian witness? Will you step out and live/serve in faith… or are you already devising your next excuse?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 17, 2013
March 17 ~ Job 27:1-5
Job said: I am desperate because God All-Powerful refuses to do what is right. As surely as God lives, and while he gives me breath, I will tell only the truth. Until the day I die, I will refuse to do wrong by saying you are right…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As I flipped through my prayer journal this morning, I found several instances where I have made the same requests to God… day after day, week after week. I asked Him many times, “Aren’t you ready for my Mam-ma Polly yet?” because I saw how miserable she was. I asked Him to intervene in other situations, and it seemed things never really got any better. I prayed for healing for a precious friend with breast cancer… and it came all right – when God suddenly called her home to heaven.
I have repeatedly brought the same requests before God, even though it appeared He was refusing to answer me. But the one thing I have not done is to blame God or to give up on believing for an outcome. If anything, I have learned to trust Him more than ever. Even as I would write, “Can’t Mam-ma come Home yet?” I knew he was gently laughing and shaking His head at me in a fatherly way. He was saying, “Oh, sweetie… I hear you… but we’re on MY time – not yours.” So I refused to say (even to myself), “God is so mean for leaving my grandmother here in a failing body without the ability to speak and communicate.” I would not let the devil have the pleasure of knowing that even for one minute I questioned God. Yes, I asked for mercy for her… but I trusted God’s impeccable timing and outcome. And even this week as I looked at how the last days, weeks and hours of my grandmother’s life unfolded, I see God’s hand in the minute details - as well as the big picture.
As I pray for other people and situations, I learn more every day how important it is for me to step aside and let God work. He wants us to bring our petitions before Him. He doesn’t mind that I make the same requests virtually every day for certain persons and circumstances. But God expects me to lift my concerns to Him… then trust Him to handle them. Believe me, on some fronts it would be incredibly easy to throw up my hands and say, “Go ahead, devil! Take this (or them)… I’m done, and it looks like maybe God is, too!” But this is not my call. Throwing in the towel and living as we please because we didn’t exactly get our way with God is not the mark of integrity… or of a faith-filled Christian!
Yes, there are days when we feel a little desperate. But Christians do not abide by the tenet that “desperate times call for desperate measures.” To the contrary, desperate times call for a renewed resolve to trust in God and maintain our faith… and our integrity. If you feel a little desperate today, stop and think about Job and how he was tested. Consider all that Jesus endured on the cross for your sins… and the promise of eternity with Him in heaven. Then ask yourself whether giving up – or giving in – are really viable options.
God is still God. He still sits on the throne and is still very much in charge. Will you recognize this? Will you behave as if it were so? Will others always see in you a person of integrity… at all times and in all situations? Will you allow God complete control of your life and all outcomes? Will you demonstrate to others God’s power in your life to reject the devil’s advances…to refuse to concede defeat? How principled are you? Whose camp are you really in… and is it apparent to others?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Job said: I am desperate because God All-Powerful refuses to do what is right. As surely as God lives, and while he gives me breath, I will tell only the truth. Until the day I die, I will refuse to do wrong by saying you are right…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As I flipped through my prayer journal this morning, I found several instances where I have made the same requests to God… day after day, week after week. I asked Him many times, “Aren’t you ready for my Mam-ma Polly yet?” because I saw how miserable she was. I asked Him to intervene in other situations, and it seemed things never really got any better. I prayed for healing for a precious friend with breast cancer… and it came all right – when God suddenly called her home to heaven.
I have repeatedly brought the same requests before God, even though it appeared He was refusing to answer me. But the one thing I have not done is to blame God or to give up on believing for an outcome. If anything, I have learned to trust Him more than ever. Even as I would write, “Can’t Mam-ma come Home yet?” I knew he was gently laughing and shaking His head at me in a fatherly way. He was saying, “Oh, sweetie… I hear you… but we’re on MY time – not yours.” So I refused to say (even to myself), “God is so mean for leaving my grandmother here in a failing body without the ability to speak and communicate.” I would not let the devil have the pleasure of knowing that even for one minute I questioned God. Yes, I asked for mercy for her… but I trusted God’s impeccable timing and outcome. And even this week as I looked at how the last days, weeks and hours of my grandmother’s life unfolded, I see God’s hand in the minute details - as well as the big picture.
As I pray for other people and situations, I learn more every day how important it is for me to step aside and let God work. He wants us to bring our petitions before Him. He doesn’t mind that I make the same requests virtually every day for certain persons and circumstances. But God expects me to lift my concerns to Him… then trust Him to handle them. Believe me, on some fronts it would be incredibly easy to throw up my hands and say, “Go ahead, devil! Take this (or them)… I’m done, and it looks like maybe God is, too!” But this is not my call. Throwing in the towel and living as we please because we didn’t exactly get our way with God is not the mark of integrity… or of a faith-filled Christian!
Yes, there are days when we feel a little desperate. But Christians do not abide by the tenet that “desperate times call for desperate measures.” To the contrary, desperate times call for a renewed resolve to trust in God and maintain our faith… and our integrity. If you feel a little desperate today, stop and think about Job and how he was tested. Consider all that Jesus endured on the cross for your sins… and the promise of eternity with Him in heaven. Then ask yourself whether giving up – or giving in – are really viable options.
God is still God. He still sits on the throne and is still very much in charge. Will you recognize this? Will you behave as if it were so? Will others always see in you a person of integrity… at all times and in all situations? Will you allow God complete control of your life and all outcomes? Will you demonstrate to others God’s power in your life to reject the devil’s advances…to refuse to concede defeat? How principled are you? Whose camp are you really in… and is it apparent to others?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 4, 2012
Genesis 22:1-3
Some years later God decided to test Abraham, so he spoke to him.
Abraham answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
The Lord said, “Go get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to me on the fires of an altar.” So Abraham got up early the next morning and chopped wood for the fire. He put a saddle on his donkey and left with Isaac and two servants for the place where God had told him to go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was watching a story on television this week about a woman who is in prison… convicted of negligent homicide in the death of a foster child who was in her care. While a judge and jury found ample evidence to place her there, many insist she was a victim of circumstances. The woman is the biological mother of more than one child… and a former missionary who worked with special needs children. She stated in an interview for this story …“I always said, ‘LORD, I’ll go anywhere you send me.’ I just didn’t know He would send me to prison.”
I have no idea if the LORD sent this woman to prison… she may use this thought as a coping mechanism – and these words as a ploy to try to convince others of her innocence. But her comment did cause me to stop and think… “Where is God sending me?” Has it ever occurred to any of us that the little bumps in the road… or even the BIGGER ones… might be God calling us to do something difficult – testing how deeply we rely on Him for strength? When we have our life all mapped out, and we get thrown a curve ball… do we see it as an inconvenience - or an opportunity?
How profoundly would our lives change if instead of asking, “Why me, LORD?” we said, “Here I am!” – and meant it? What if we shifted our thinking to look at tests of our strength as chances to demonstrate God’s power and presence in our life? Isn’t this at least worth a try? Where is God sending you today… and how are you reacting?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Some years later God decided to test Abraham, so he spoke to him.
Abraham answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
The Lord said, “Go get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to me on the fires of an altar.” So Abraham got up early the next morning and chopped wood for the fire. He put a saddle on his donkey and left with Isaac and two servants for the place where God had told him to go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was watching a story on television this week about a woman who is in prison… convicted of negligent homicide in the death of a foster child who was in her care. While a judge and jury found ample evidence to place her there, many insist she was a victim of circumstances. The woman is the biological mother of more than one child… and a former missionary who worked with special needs children. She stated in an interview for this story …“I always said, ‘LORD, I’ll go anywhere you send me.’ I just didn’t know He would send me to prison.”
I have no idea if the LORD sent this woman to prison… she may use this thought as a coping mechanism – and these words as a ploy to try to convince others of her innocence. But her comment did cause me to stop and think… “Where is God sending me?” Has it ever occurred to any of us that the little bumps in the road… or even the BIGGER ones… might be God calling us to do something difficult – testing how deeply we rely on Him for strength? When we have our life all mapped out, and we get thrown a curve ball… do we see it as an inconvenience - or an opportunity?
How profoundly would our lives change if instead of asking, “Why me, LORD?” we said, “Here I am!” – and meant it? What if we shifted our thinking to look at tests of our strength as chances to demonstrate God’s power and presence in our life? Isn’t this at least worth a try? Where is God sending you today… and how are you reacting?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 12, 2012
Matthew 12:1-8
One Sabbath, Jesus was strolling with his disciples through a field of ripe grain. Hungry, the disciples were pulling off the heads of grain and munching on them. Some Pharisees reported them to Jesus: “Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath rules!”
Jesus said, “Really? Didn’t you ever read what David and his companions did when they were hungry, how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? And didn’t you ever read in God’s Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it’s not held against them?
“There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—‘I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual’—you wouldn’t be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I read a very interesting article at http://honors.uca.edu/wiki/index.php/Sunday_Blue_Law which tells the history of “Blue Laws” in Arkansas and the efforts by churches and religious leaders to encourage congregations to “avoid amusements, recreation, work, and unnecessary travel on Sundays.” The article further says that Sunday baseball had been illegal in our state since 1885.
In another section, the ridiculousness of this law is detailed… “In the 1960s the city of Little Rock banned sales of fresh Vienna sausage, pantyhose, and toilet paper, but put no similar restriction on bacon and bologna, baby clothes, or newspapers. Citizens of the city could buy lettuce but not cabbage. Cooked meats and fish could be purchased on Sunday, but not if sold in jars, bottles, or cans. In the 1970s, police arrested a shopkeeper for selling cups and sewing needles on Sunday. Another ran afoul of the law for selling nails, and a third for selling towels and a key chain. The point of prohibiting certain items but not others generally followed the rule of thumb that prohibiting certain or enough items would have the effect of keeping shops targeted by special interests closed entirely on the Lord's Day.”
Bear in mind that we could go to a restaurant and have a Sunday meal. It was apparently okay for cooks, dishwashers, wait staff and cashiers to work in an establishment where others were fed… but you could not buy certain foods at a grocery store to feed your family at home. My 21st-Century oven has a “Sabbath drawer” for warming food… a holdover from a time when it was considered sinful to cook on Sunday, so women prepared the meal on Saturday and warmed it in the oven on Sunday.
While this all seems absurd to us now… this law was not repealed in Arkansas until 1982…only 30 years ago! And some probably still wish that stores were not open on Sunday and people considered it more a day of rest than a time to catch up on shopping or do other things. But the point of this whole passage is made in one line… “I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual.” In other words…our Christian faith is not completely wrapped up in what we do on Sunday… or any other day, for that matter. If we are more concerned with ritual and appearances than the actual business of serving Jesus Christ – on ANY given day – we have totally missed the mark!
I’m not saying you should skip church on Sunday and go shopping or do something else. But you’re not necessarily a bad person if you do. If you have a job that requires you to work weekends – including Sundays – and you have a family to feed and bills to pay… there are other times and ways you can worship. And this is not just about what you do on Sundays… it’s much bigger. There are countless rituals, rules and requirements in every corner of the world and every denomination… from how to dress and wear your hair to whether or not you can eat meat – and what kinds of meat!... to whether you can have electricity and a telephone in your house. And when you drill it all down… none of these rituals and rules have a single thing to do with truly serving Jesus Christ and walking in faith with Him every day! I am not knocking traditions and religious tenets. If you attend a denomination that has specific requirements about your conduct - and you are comfortable with this - good for you! But do not let man-made laws dictate how you worship Jesus.
Study the scripture. Spend some time in prayer and meditation. Ask God what HE desires of you…and whether He finds fault with your conduct. If you are confident that you are obedient… faithful… and an honorable servant, then what others think really doesn’t matter. When we move our focus from pleasing man to pleasing God, everything changes. How flexible is your heart?
©2012 Debbie Robus
One Sabbath, Jesus was strolling with his disciples through a field of ripe grain. Hungry, the disciples were pulling off the heads of grain and munching on them. Some Pharisees reported them to Jesus: “Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath rules!”
Jesus said, “Really? Didn’t you ever read what David and his companions did when they were hungry, how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? And didn’t you ever read in God’s Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it’s not held against them?
“There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—‘I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual’—you wouldn’t be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I read a very interesting article at http://honors.uca.edu/wiki/index.php/Sunday_Blue_Law which tells the history of “Blue Laws” in Arkansas and the efforts by churches and religious leaders to encourage congregations to “avoid amusements, recreation, work, and unnecessary travel on Sundays.” The article further says that Sunday baseball had been illegal in our state since 1885.
In another section, the ridiculousness of this law is detailed… “In the 1960s the city of Little Rock banned sales of fresh Vienna sausage, pantyhose, and toilet paper, but put no similar restriction on bacon and bologna, baby clothes, or newspapers. Citizens of the city could buy lettuce but not cabbage. Cooked meats and fish could be purchased on Sunday, but not if sold in jars, bottles, or cans. In the 1970s, police arrested a shopkeeper for selling cups and sewing needles on Sunday. Another ran afoul of the law for selling nails, and a third for selling towels and a key chain. The point of prohibiting certain items but not others generally followed the rule of thumb that prohibiting certain or enough items would have the effect of keeping shops targeted by special interests closed entirely on the Lord's Day.”
Bear in mind that we could go to a restaurant and have a Sunday meal. It was apparently okay for cooks, dishwashers, wait staff and cashiers to work in an establishment where others were fed… but you could not buy certain foods at a grocery store to feed your family at home. My 21st-Century oven has a “Sabbath drawer” for warming food… a holdover from a time when it was considered sinful to cook on Sunday, so women prepared the meal on Saturday and warmed it in the oven on Sunday.
While this all seems absurd to us now… this law was not repealed in Arkansas until 1982…only 30 years ago! And some probably still wish that stores were not open on Sunday and people considered it more a day of rest than a time to catch up on shopping or do other things. But the point of this whole passage is made in one line… “I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual.” In other words…our Christian faith is not completely wrapped up in what we do on Sunday… or any other day, for that matter. If we are more concerned with ritual and appearances than the actual business of serving Jesus Christ – on ANY given day – we have totally missed the mark!
I’m not saying you should skip church on Sunday and go shopping or do something else. But you’re not necessarily a bad person if you do. If you have a job that requires you to work weekends – including Sundays – and you have a family to feed and bills to pay… there are other times and ways you can worship. And this is not just about what you do on Sundays… it’s much bigger. There are countless rituals, rules and requirements in every corner of the world and every denomination… from how to dress and wear your hair to whether or not you can eat meat – and what kinds of meat!... to whether you can have electricity and a telephone in your house. And when you drill it all down… none of these rituals and rules have a single thing to do with truly serving Jesus Christ and walking in faith with Him every day! I am not knocking traditions and religious tenets. If you attend a denomination that has specific requirements about your conduct - and you are comfortable with this - good for you! But do not let man-made laws dictate how you worship Jesus.
Study the scripture. Spend some time in prayer and meditation. Ask God what HE desires of you…and whether He finds fault with your conduct. If you are confident that you are obedient… faithful… and an honorable servant, then what others think really doesn’t matter. When we move our focus from pleasing man to pleasing God, everything changes. How flexible is your heart?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 2, 2012
Ezekiel 37:7-10
I did what the Lord said, but before I finished speaking, I heard a rattling noise. The bones were coming together! I saw muscles and skin cover the bones, but they had no life in them.
The Lord said: Ezekiel, now say to the wind, “The Lord God commands you to blow from every direction and to breathe life into these dead bodies, so they can live again.”
As soon as I said this, the wind blew among the bodies, and they came back to life! They all stood up, and there were enough to make a large army.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Ellen DeGeneres is well-known for her hidden camera pranks. For instance, she once sent one of her writers, Amy, to a supermarket disguised as a produce manager. She told Amy what to say to customers, and Amy had to say and do whatever Ellen told her. At one point, Ellen told Amy to ask a customer what she was buying, and then to ask her, “Do you have any cats?” Then she told Amy to yell out, “I have two cats!” Ellen got more ridiculous with the prank, and Amy the writer had people looking at her like she was insane.
It was all in good fun… and Amy was a good sport. She said and did everything Ellen commanded. At one point, a customer pushed her cart past Amy. Ellen told Amy to yell "TURNIP!” and then start tap dancing. Amy did exactly this! Finally, Amy was allowed to tell the customer that she was with the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and they were on hidden camera… and everything ended well.
There were a few tense moments when Ellen told Amy to do something, and Amy looked somewhat shocked and reluctant… as in, “Are you kidding me?!” And I have a feeling this is how we often react when God speaks to us – if we even recognize His voice in the first place! Unlike Ellen’s writer Amy, I’d be willing to bet that we have ignored God more than a few times… or disobeyed Him. And unlike the harmless prank that Ellen DeGeneres was pulling for her television show, the consequences of ignoring God can be life changing!
Just look at what happened to Ezekiel. Imagine if he had ignored God’s commands about the dry bones. What if he had failed to command the winds on God’s behalf? I must tell you, our failure to do what God commands us is every bit as critical! We must be awake, alert, and completely in tune with God and His will, so that when He speaks to us, we answer swiftly and obediently.
If God told you to yell “TURNIP!” and start tap dancing in a grocery store, would you do it? Would you hear His voice, recognize HE was speaking, and obey His command? I doubt seriously that God will ever tell any of us to do this. But we must be ready, willing and able to answer when He does speak… and to do whatever He tells us. Are you prepared to answer obediently? When God speaks to you, how do you respond?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I did what the Lord said, but before I finished speaking, I heard a rattling noise. The bones were coming together! I saw muscles and skin cover the bones, but they had no life in them.
The Lord said: Ezekiel, now say to the wind, “The Lord God commands you to blow from every direction and to breathe life into these dead bodies, so they can live again.”
As soon as I said this, the wind blew among the bodies, and they came back to life! They all stood up, and there were enough to make a large army.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Ellen DeGeneres is well-known for her hidden camera pranks. For instance, she once sent one of her writers, Amy, to a supermarket disguised as a produce manager. She told Amy what to say to customers, and Amy had to say and do whatever Ellen told her. At one point, Ellen told Amy to ask a customer what she was buying, and then to ask her, “Do you have any cats?” Then she told Amy to yell out, “I have two cats!” Ellen got more ridiculous with the prank, and Amy the writer had people looking at her like she was insane.
It was all in good fun… and Amy was a good sport. She said and did everything Ellen commanded. At one point, a customer pushed her cart past Amy. Ellen told Amy to yell "TURNIP!” and then start tap dancing. Amy did exactly this! Finally, Amy was allowed to tell the customer that she was with the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and they were on hidden camera… and everything ended well.
There were a few tense moments when Ellen told Amy to do something, and Amy looked somewhat shocked and reluctant… as in, “Are you kidding me?!” And I have a feeling this is how we often react when God speaks to us – if we even recognize His voice in the first place! Unlike Ellen’s writer Amy, I’d be willing to bet that we have ignored God more than a few times… or disobeyed Him. And unlike the harmless prank that Ellen DeGeneres was pulling for her television show, the consequences of ignoring God can be life changing!
Just look at what happened to Ezekiel. Imagine if he had ignored God’s commands about the dry bones. What if he had failed to command the winds on God’s behalf? I must tell you, our failure to do what God commands us is every bit as critical! We must be awake, alert, and completely in tune with God and His will, so that when He speaks to us, we answer swiftly and obediently.
If God told you to yell “TURNIP!” and start tap dancing in a grocery store, would you do it? Would you hear His voice, recognize HE was speaking, and obey His command? I doubt seriously that God will ever tell any of us to do this. But we must be ready, willing and able to answer when He does speak… and to do whatever He tells us. Are you prepared to answer obediently? When God speaks to you, how do you respond?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 26, 2012
1 John 3:18
Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“The Bucket List” is a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. According to information found at http://imdb.com/ ...“Corporate billionaire Edward Cole [played by Nicholson] and working class mechanic Carter Chambers [played by Freeman] have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die, according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find joy in life.” Since this movie was released in 2007, the catch-phrase “bucket list” has become synonymous with actually doing things rather than just talking or dreaming about them. And many are on a mission to mark off things on their own personal inventories.
Perhaps we need a “bucket list” of sorts as Christians. Many of us talk a good game about doing things for God… but we are just that – all talk. When it comes to actually putting our words into action, we often fail miserably. So we talk about how we should call someone and see how they are doing… but we never pick up the phone. We say, “I need to make an effort to be more understanding of others”… and then we continue to treat people as we always have. We touch on how inspired we are by others who share the love of Christ in a myriad of ways… but we never seem to figure out our “niche” - how and where God wants US to serve!
The time has come for us to start working on our Christian “bucket list” – to stop talking and start showing love for others by truly helping them. It is time to ask God to show us where and how He wants us to serve… and then DO IT! Are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to start marking things off your list?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“The Bucket List” is a movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. According to information found at http://imdb.com/ ...“Corporate billionaire Edward Cole [played by Nicholson] and working class mechanic Carter Chambers [played by Freeman] have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die, according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find joy in life.” Since this movie was released in 2007, the catch-phrase “bucket list” has become synonymous with actually doing things rather than just talking or dreaming about them. And many are on a mission to mark off things on their own personal inventories.
Perhaps we need a “bucket list” of sorts as Christians. Many of us talk a good game about doing things for God… but we are just that – all talk. When it comes to actually putting our words into action, we often fail miserably. So we talk about how we should call someone and see how they are doing… but we never pick up the phone. We say, “I need to make an effort to be more understanding of others”… and then we continue to treat people as we always have. We touch on how inspired we are by others who share the love of Christ in a myriad of ways… but we never seem to figure out our “niche” - how and where God wants US to serve!
The time has come for us to start working on our Christian “bucket list” – to stop talking and start showing love for others by truly helping them. It is time to ask God to show us where and how He wants us to serve… and then DO IT! Are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to start marking things off your list?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 10, 2011
John 12:24-26
I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was cleaning my desk this morning (those of you who know me can start laughing now), and I came across a note I had made that said, “Sidewalk Prophets – The Words I Would Say.” I Googled the phrase and found the YouTube video for this song. I had heard it on Christian radio one day and noted the names of the song and artist. This morning, I listened to it again and bookmarked it for future listening.
I had already found my scripture passage for today… the words practically leapt off the page at me. The message I received loud and clear is that life will not be easy or pleasant for us every single day just because we invite Jesus to be LORD of our life. If everything were hunky-dory every day, most of us would decide we really didn’t need a Savior, wouldn’t we?!
In order to truly prove to God that we are with Him 100%, we have to endure some bumps in the road… set our own personal agendas aside… and follow Him completely. We may have to work at a job we don’t particularly enjoy. We may have to get up at 3:00 a.m. with a sick baby or miss a party because our mom or grandma needs our help. We may have to tell our friends, “I’m sorry, but I can’t come with you,” as they get in a car and head for the liquor store and an all-nighter. We may have to speak up and share our disapproval to the person who makes unkind comments toward someone of another ethnicity, religious belief or lifestyle choice that differs from his/hers.
Recently I made the comment that I have had to do things in the past that did not make me happy… but they were the right thing to do – and I know God was guiding my steps. We don’t always get to have things our way, particularly if we are genuine Disciples of Christ. But the rewards and blessings far outweigh any momentary unhappiness we might encounter.
I encourage you to click on the video at the end of this post and listen to “The Words I Would Say.” If you don’t care to listen, take a look at the lyrics I’ve provided. Let Jesus speak to you through them today. Hear Him tell you to be strong in Him… never give up hope… don’t live life in fear and don’t forget why you are here! God’s got His hand on you… come find peace in the Father.
©2011 Debbie Robus
I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was cleaning my desk this morning (those of you who know me can start laughing now), and I came across a note I had made that said, “Sidewalk Prophets – The Words I Would Say.” I Googled the phrase and found the YouTube video for this song. I had heard it on Christian radio one day and noted the names of the song and artist. This morning, I listened to it again and bookmarked it for future listening.
I had already found my scripture passage for today… the words practically leapt off the page at me. The message I received loud and clear is that life will not be easy or pleasant for us every single day just because we invite Jesus to be LORD of our life. If everything were hunky-dory every day, most of us would decide we really didn’t need a Savior, wouldn’t we?!
In order to truly prove to God that we are with Him 100%, we have to endure some bumps in the road… set our own personal agendas aside… and follow Him completely. We may have to work at a job we don’t particularly enjoy. We may have to get up at 3:00 a.m. with a sick baby or miss a party because our mom or grandma needs our help. We may have to tell our friends, “I’m sorry, but I can’t come with you,” as they get in a car and head for the liquor store and an all-nighter. We may have to speak up and share our disapproval to the person who makes unkind comments toward someone of another ethnicity, religious belief or lifestyle choice that differs from his/hers.
Recently I made the comment that I have had to do things in the past that did not make me happy… but they were the right thing to do – and I know God was guiding my steps. We don’t always get to have things our way, particularly if we are genuine Disciples of Christ. But the rewards and blessings far outweigh any momentary unhappiness we might encounter.
I encourage you to click on the video at the end of this post and listen to “The Words I Would Say.” If you don’t care to listen, take a look at the lyrics I’ve provided. Let Jesus speak to you through them today. Hear Him tell you to be strong in Him… never give up hope… don’t live life in fear and don’t forget why you are here! God’s got His hand on you… come find peace in the Father.
©2011 Debbie Robus
- The Words I Would Say
©2009 Sidewalk Prophets – These Simple Truths
http://www.sidewalkprophets.com/
Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,
Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,
Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,
From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,
Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say
Daily Devotional for September 28, 2011
John 12:1-8
Six days before Passover Jesus went back to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus from death. A meal had been prepared for Jesus. Martha was doing the serving, and Lazarus himself was there.
Mary took a very expensive bottle of perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet. She wiped them with her hair, and the sweet smell of the perfume filled the house. A disciple named Judas Iscariot was there. He was the one who was going to betray Jesus, and he asked, "Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?" Judas did not really care about the poor. He asked this because he carried the moneybag and sometimes would steal from it. Jesus replied, "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Every day, we make choices about what is important. We choose whether to spend time studying or watching television or video games. We decide whether to eat the healthy cereal in our cabinet or that powdered sugar donut on the counter that keeps calling our name. We make a decision to spend money on things we want but may not really need… often at the expense of paying our bills. Life is pretty much a series of choices.
The life of a Christian involves choices, too. Obviously we are supposed to choose a Godly life over one filled with sin. As followers of Jesus, we are also called to make several other choices. And one of them is Who – and how – to serve.
Today, this scripture reminded me that we are not supposed to judge others for their service… and they are not to judge us. Just because one person teaches Sunday School, sings in the choir, and serves on a half dozen committees at church doesn’t mean this is what God is asking of us. We are not to question another believer’s donations, mission trips, or motives in general. It may appear to us that someone is not carrying his/her load… we may feel that some spend their time unwisely or waste their talents and resources. But this is not our call… and Jesus clearly pointed this out when Mary poured the precious, expensive oil on His feet and Judas criticized her.
Each of us is called to serve God in a unique way. What He expects of us may be completely different from what is expected of another. As long as we listen for God’s call… stay attuned to His will for us… and serve in the way that He desires, it’s really nobody else’s business. And we are not to judge the other guy, either.
So this scripture passage represents a wake-up call. We need to be busy doing what we are supposed to do as faithful Christian servants. We need to be glorifying God with every choice we make. And we need to be minding our own business when it comes to how our fellow believers are serving. Ask yourself how well you are doing… then ask God to help you line up your priorities with His. And let’s keep our opinions about others to ourselves.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Six days before Passover Jesus went back to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus from death. A meal had been prepared for Jesus. Martha was doing the serving, and Lazarus himself was there.
Mary took a very expensive bottle of perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet. She wiped them with her hair, and the sweet smell of the perfume filled the house. A disciple named Judas Iscariot was there. He was the one who was going to betray Jesus, and he asked, "Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?" Judas did not really care about the poor. He asked this because he carried the moneybag and sometimes would steal from it. Jesus replied, "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Every day, we make choices about what is important. We choose whether to spend time studying or watching television or video games. We decide whether to eat the healthy cereal in our cabinet or that powdered sugar donut on the counter that keeps calling our name. We make a decision to spend money on things we want but may not really need… often at the expense of paying our bills. Life is pretty much a series of choices.
The life of a Christian involves choices, too. Obviously we are supposed to choose a Godly life over one filled with sin. As followers of Jesus, we are also called to make several other choices. And one of them is Who – and how – to serve.
Today, this scripture reminded me that we are not supposed to judge others for their service… and they are not to judge us. Just because one person teaches Sunday School, sings in the choir, and serves on a half dozen committees at church doesn’t mean this is what God is asking of us. We are not to question another believer’s donations, mission trips, or motives in general. It may appear to us that someone is not carrying his/her load… we may feel that some spend their time unwisely or waste their talents and resources. But this is not our call… and Jesus clearly pointed this out when Mary poured the precious, expensive oil on His feet and Judas criticized her.
Each of us is called to serve God in a unique way. What He expects of us may be completely different from what is expected of another. As long as we listen for God’s call… stay attuned to His will for us… and serve in the way that He desires, it’s really nobody else’s business. And we are not to judge the other guy, either.
So this scripture passage represents a wake-up call. We need to be busy doing what we are supposed to do as faithful Christian servants. We need to be glorifying God with every choice we make. And we need to be minding our own business when it comes to how our fellow believers are serving. Ask yourself how well you are doing… then ask God to help you line up your priorities with His. And let’s keep our opinions about others to ourselves.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 28, 2011
John 7:21-24
Jesus answered: I worked one miracle, and it amazed you. Moses commanded you to circumcise your sons. But it wasn't really Moses who gave you this command. It was your ancestors, and even on the Sabbath you circumcise your sons in order to obey the Law of Moses. Why are you angry with me for making someone completely well on the Sabbath? Don't judge by appearances. Judge by what is right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, most stores were not open on Sunday. There was a law, known as the “Blue Law” that prohibited the sale of certain items on Sunday, including groceries, clothing, and other items. We could go to a restaurant and eat, but we couldn’t go to a grocery store and buy a gallon of milk and a hunk of bologna! Sunday was truly considered a day of rest for many. I remember my mother finding me at the sewing machine one Sunday afternoon when I was a young teenager, and she asked, “You’re sewing on Sunday?”
While it’s too bad that some people have to work every single Sunday and have limited opportunities to attend church services, it’s also pretty hypocritical to say that it is okay for restaurant staff to serve us a meal… or for doctors and nurses to treat us in a hospital on Sunday, but it is wrong for people to sell baby food and other groceries, clothing, medicine, and more. Why was it acceptable for my grandfather to feed his livestock on Sunday morning before church, but considered questionable for me to spend Sunday afternoon between services sewing a new garment? I will tell you that my mother has changed her thinking about this through the years… as have many.
The bigger question… as posed by Jesus in Judea… is “Who are we to judge?” Do we assume that someone who works on Sunday doesn’t care about their faith? Just because we know someone who doesn’t attend services every time the doors are open, do we think they are a lesser Christian? Do we make all sorts of assumptions about those who don’t appear to be as active in the church as others? In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says some of the most important service ever done for the LORD is some of the seemingly most insignificant…and certainly least visible. In truth, is our judgment of someone who works on Sunday masking a more deep-seated judgment of that person in general? Like the people of Judea who were challenging Jesus, do we have a hidden agenda?
We cannot make judgments based on what day it is, or what we observe and hear. There is always so much more that we do not know. So often, we don’t have all the facts. Jesus is reminding us in this passage to judge what is right… to look at the outcome – the end result. Never judge based on appearance. Always remember that you don’t have all the facts and cannot assume anything. At the end of the day, only God can decide whether another is doing the right thing… living correctly and making the best use of his/her time.
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I can dash into the store after church on Sunday and pick up bread and milk. I’m thankful that there are people willing to work weekends… and I pray that they have a Sunday off here and there to be with their family and attend church if they wish. I’m grateful that someone is running a gas station, in case I need to fuel up on the Sabbath… and I honestly don’t think God minds if I spend my Sunday afternoon shopping instead of napping.
It is important that we know where we stand with God… and that we behave in a way that models the teachings of Jesus. But at the end of the day, nobody knows our heart but us and God. Surely we want others to remember this when they begin to judge us… and we must do the same in return.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered: I worked one miracle, and it amazed you. Moses commanded you to circumcise your sons. But it wasn't really Moses who gave you this command. It was your ancestors, and even on the Sabbath you circumcise your sons in order to obey the Law of Moses. Why are you angry with me for making someone completely well on the Sabbath? Don't judge by appearances. Judge by what is right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, most stores were not open on Sunday. There was a law, known as the “Blue Law” that prohibited the sale of certain items on Sunday, including groceries, clothing, and other items. We could go to a restaurant and eat, but we couldn’t go to a grocery store and buy a gallon of milk and a hunk of bologna! Sunday was truly considered a day of rest for many. I remember my mother finding me at the sewing machine one Sunday afternoon when I was a young teenager, and she asked, “You’re sewing on Sunday?”
While it’s too bad that some people have to work every single Sunday and have limited opportunities to attend church services, it’s also pretty hypocritical to say that it is okay for restaurant staff to serve us a meal… or for doctors and nurses to treat us in a hospital on Sunday, but it is wrong for people to sell baby food and other groceries, clothing, medicine, and more. Why was it acceptable for my grandfather to feed his livestock on Sunday morning before church, but considered questionable for me to spend Sunday afternoon between services sewing a new garment? I will tell you that my mother has changed her thinking about this through the years… as have many.
The bigger question… as posed by Jesus in Judea… is “Who are we to judge?” Do we assume that someone who works on Sunday doesn’t care about their faith? Just because we know someone who doesn’t attend services every time the doors are open, do we think they are a lesser Christian? Do we make all sorts of assumptions about those who don’t appear to be as active in the church as others? In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says some of the most important service ever done for the LORD is some of the seemingly most insignificant…and certainly least visible. In truth, is our judgment of someone who works on Sunday masking a more deep-seated judgment of that person in general? Like the people of Judea who were challenging Jesus, do we have a hidden agenda?
We cannot make judgments based on what day it is, or what we observe and hear. There is always so much more that we do not know. So often, we don’t have all the facts. Jesus is reminding us in this passage to judge what is right… to look at the outcome – the end result. Never judge based on appearance. Always remember that you don’t have all the facts and cannot assume anything. At the end of the day, only God can decide whether another is doing the right thing… living correctly and making the best use of his/her time.
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I can dash into the store after church on Sunday and pick up bread and milk. I’m thankful that there are people willing to work weekends… and I pray that they have a Sunday off here and there to be with their family and attend church if they wish. I’m grateful that someone is running a gas station, in case I need to fuel up on the Sabbath… and I honestly don’t think God minds if I spend my Sunday afternoon shopping instead of napping.
It is important that we know where we stand with God… and that we behave in a way that models the teachings of Jesus. But at the end of the day, nobody knows our heart but us and God. Surely we want others to remember this when they begin to judge us… and we must do the same in return.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 4, 2011
1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe GOD will work for us. There's no rule that says GOD can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop GOD from saving when he sets his mind to it."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On April 12, 2011, 10-year-old LaShaun Armstrong’s 25-year-old mother put him and three siblings in the family van and told them, “If I’m going to die, you’re all going to die with me.” Then she drove the van into the frigid waters of the Hudson River near Newburgh, New York, 60 miles north of New York City. LaShaun managed to open a driver’s side window and swim to safety. His mother had crawled into the back seat, where she held LaShaun’s siblings – ages 5, 2, and eleven months. LaShaun says as he broke free, his mother said, “Oh, my God, I made a mistake” and tried to climb into the front seat and put the car in reverse. But it was too late. LaShaun was the only survivor.
News reports of this tragic incident hit the airwaves, and people were shocked and heartbroken. In particular, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was greatly moved by the courage of a young boy… and his tremendous loss. Lewis was so touched by LaShaun’s story that he formed a foundation and garnered the assistance of some of his friends from the Carolina Panthers. Lewis has since become something of a “big brother” to LaShaun. He said, "I looked at him and told him, 'I'm here for you man. I can't replace what you've lost. But I can tell you that I'm here to go forward with you.'"
Lewis was particularly touched by LaShaun’s story, because his own mother was unable to afford to keep him when he was a teenager. He knows the devastation of feeling abandoned by his mother… and he has vowed to make a difference in LaShaun’s life. Now, others have joined him, and LaShaun is surrounded by the love and care of many who are vowing to make a difference for him.
I know that Ray Lewis is a pro athlete with lots of resources. But he also has a big heart. He didn’t have to take an interest in a 10-year-old boy. Like many, he could have said, “That’s sad… but I’m just one person – and I don’t even know LaShaun Armstrong. There’s no way I could do anything.” Instead, this is an example of a man who has been given much using his wealth, status and resources to help others. And we can do this, too. Just as Jonathan learned in this passage from 1 Samuel, God doesn’t always need an army to make a difference… He can do great things with just one person, if He so desires.
When someone I knew to be a faithful Christian would say to me, “I am praying for you,” I used to reply, “Good… because I know you have a direct line to Heaven.” That sounds nice, and it’s quite the compliment… but it simply is not true. Nobody has a more direct line to heaven than another person. Your “line” to God is just as clear and has as many “bars” as the next person’s. You may seem to hear from Him more clearly than some… and your faithful contact may seem to result in more blessings… but God is waiting to help each of us equally.
We seriously underestimate God’s power and purpose to use “lil’ ole me” to serve and further His kingdom. He may not be calling you to fight a legion of pagans – or start a foundation to help an abandoned 10-year-old boy. But He does have plans for you – just “lil’ ole YOU”! Are you paying attention? Are you hearing God’s voice and answering His call?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe GOD will work for us. There's no rule that says GOD can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop GOD from saving when he sets his mind to it."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On April 12, 2011, 10-year-old LaShaun Armstrong’s 25-year-old mother put him and three siblings in the family van and told them, “If I’m going to die, you’re all going to die with me.” Then she drove the van into the frigid waters of the Hudson River near Newburgh, New York, 60 miles north of New York City. LaShaun managed to open a driver’s side window and swim to safety. His mother had crawled into the back seat, where she held LaShaun’s siblings – ages 5, 2, and eleven months. LaShaun says as he broke free, his mother said, “Oh, my God, I made a mistake” and tried to climb into the front seat and put the car in reverse. But it was too late. LaShaun was the only survivor.
News reports of this tragic incident hit the airwaves, and people were shocked and heartbroken. In particular, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was greatly moved by the courage of a young boy… and his tremendous loss. Lewis was so touched by LaShaun’s story that he formed a foundation and garnered the assistance of some of his friends from the Carolina Panthers. Lewis has since become something of a “big brother” to LaShaun. He said, "I looked at him and told him, 'I'm here for you man. I can't replace what you've lost. But I can tell you that I'm here to go forward with you.'"
Lewis was particularly touched by LaShaun’s story, because his own mother was unable to afford to keep him when he was a teenager. He knows the devastation of feeling abandoned by his mother… and he has vowed to make a difference in LaShaun’s life. Now, others have joined him, and LaShaun is surrounded by the love and care of many who are vowing to make a difference for him.
I know that Ray Lewis is a pro athlete with lots of resources. But he also has a big heart. He didn’t have to take an interest in a 10-year-old boy. Like many, he could have said, “That’s sad… but I’m just one person – and I don’t even know LaShaun Armstrong. There’s no way I could do anything.” Instead, this is an example of a man who has been given much using his wealth, status and resources to help others. And we can do this, too. Just as Jonathan learned in this passage from 1 Samuel, God doesn’t always need an army to make a difference… He can do great things with just one person, if He so desires.
When someone I knew to be a faithful Christian would say to me, “I am praying for you,” I used to reply, “Good… because I know you have a direct line to Heaven.” That sounds nice, and it’s quite the compliment… but it simply is not true. Nobody has a more direct line to heaven than another person. Your “line” to God is just as clear and has as many “bars” as the next person’s. You may seem to hear from Him more clearly than some… and your faithful contact may seem to result in more blessings… but God is waiting to help each of us equally.
We seriously underestimate God’s power and purpose to use “lil’ ole me” to serve and further His kingdom. He may not be calling you to fight a legion of pagans – or start a foundation to help an abandoned 10-year-old boy. But He does have plans for you – just “lil’ ole YOU”! Are you paying attention? Are you hearing God’s voice and answering His call?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 20, 2011
Judges 11:29-39
Then the LORD's Spirit took control of Jephthah, and Jephthah went through Gilead and Manasseh, raising an army. Finally, he arrived at Mizpah in Gilead, where he promised the LORD, "If you will let me defeat the Ammonites and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first."
From Mizpah, Jephthah attacked the Ammonites, and the LORD helped him defeat them. Jephthah and his army destroyed the twenty towns between Aroer and Minnith, and others as far as Abel-Keramim. After that, the Ammonites could not invade Israel any more.
When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, the first one to meet him was his daughter. She was playing a tambourine and dancing to celebrate his victory, and she was his only child.
"Oh!" Jephthah cried. Then he tore his clothes in sorrow and said to his daughter, "I made a sacred promise to the LORD, and I must keep it. Your coming out to meet me has broken my heart."
"Father," she said, "you made a sacred promise to the LORD, and he let you defeat the Ammonites. Now, you must do what you promised, even if it means I must die.
But first, please let me spend two months, wandering in the hill country with my friends. We will cry together, because I can never get married and have children." "Yes, you may have two months," Jephthah said. She and some other girls left, and for two months they wandered in the hill country, crying because she could never get married and have children. Then she went back to her father. He did what he had promised, and she never got married.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Okay, first of all, if our father promised someone something that involved a sacrifice on our part, I seriously doubt we would be so agreeable, don’t you?! Even if it didn’t involve human sacrifice – OUR human sacrifice – I still don’t think we would be so accommodating. We would hope that our dad would say, “You’re right… I really didn’t mean it! I would never think of allowing you (or your friends or possessions) to be harmed, just because I promised.” Never mind that God had saved an entire clan of people because of Jephthah’s promise…after all, we bargain with God all the time, don’t we? Surely we don’t mean to follow through… even if He delivers!
This passage illustrates a very important point… if we are going to bargain with God, we better be ready, willing, and able to deliver on our end… because God doesn’t play around! Moreover, if we do bargain with God, we had better be careful what we offer in return for whatever we ask of Him. I am pretty certain I could not have done what Jephthah’s daughter did. For one thing, she really had nothing to do with her father’s bargain with God… she was an innocent bystander caught in the cross-hairs.
On the other hand, had I been Jephthah… even considering his daughter’s willingness… I am not sure I could have followed through with killing her. I would probably have been on my knees, asking God to have mercy on me and find a suitable substitute. But that is not where we want to be, is it? We don’t want to be in a relationship with God where we are making promises we can’t possibly deliver, and hoping He will be merciful and accept something else!
Because of the blood of Jesus, living sacrifices are no longer necessary from us mere mortals. But there are plenty of times we do come before God and ask for His help, promising all sorts of things in return… “Just let me lose this 10 pounds, and I promise I will give up ice cream and start jogging every day.” We tell Him, “Please heal my loved one, and I will never miss another Sunday of worship services!” We ask, “Can you just help me make it through these finals, and I promise that next semester, I will study really hard and be ready!”
When we make promises to God in return for requesting His help, we had better be ready, willing, and able to deliver. If we don’t have the courage and fortitude of Jephthah and his daughter to fully make good on our vows, we better rethink what we are asking – and how we ask for it. Is your word your bond… with people in everyday life – and especially with God? Shouldn’t it be?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Then the LORD's Spirit took control of Jephthah, and Jephthah went through Gilead and Manasseh, raising an army. Finally, he arrived at Mizpah in Gilead, where he promised the LORD, "If you will let me defeat the Ammonites and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first."
From Mizpah, Jephthah attacked the Ammonites, and the LORD helped him defeat them. Jephthah and his army destroyed the twenty towns between Aroer and Minnith, and others as far as Abel-Keramim. After that, the Ammonites could not invade Israel any more.
When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, the first one to meet him was his daughter. She was playing a tambourine and dancing to celebrate his victory, and she was his only child.
"Oh!" Jephthah cried. Then he tore his clothes in sorrow and said to his daughter, "I made a sacred promise to the LORD, and I must keep it. Your coming out to meet me has broken my heart."
"Father," she said, "you made a sacred promise to the LORD, and he let you defeat the Ammonites. Now, you must do what you promised, even if it means I must die.
But first, please let me spend two months, wandering in the hill country with my friends. We will cry together, because I can never get married and have children." "Yes, you may have two months," Jephthah said. She and some other girls left, and for two months they wandered in the hill country, crying because she could never get married and have children. Then she went back to her father. He did what he had promised, and she never got married.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Okay, first of all, if our father promised someone something that involved a sacrifice on our part, I seriously doubt we would be so agreeable, don’t you?! Even if it didn’t involve human sacrifice – OUR human sacrifice – I still don’t think we would be so accommodating. We would hope that our dad would say, “You’re right… I really didn’t mean it! I would never think of allowing you (or your friends or possessions) to be harmed, just because I promised.” Never mind that God had saved an entire clan of people because of Jephthah’s promise…after all, we bargain with God all the time, don’t we? Surely we don’t mean to follow through… even if He delivers!
This passage illustrates a very important point… if we are going to bargain with God, we better be ready, willing, and able to deliver on our end… because God doesn’t play around! Moreover, if we do bargain with God, we had better be careful what we offer in return for whatever we ask of Him. I am pretty certain I could not have done what Jephthah’s daughter did. For one thing, she really had nothing to do with her father’s bargain with God… she was an innocent bystander caught in the cross-hairs.
On the other hand, had I been Jephthah… even considering his daughter’s willingness… I am not sure I could have followed through with killing her. I would probably have been on my knees, asking God to have mercy on me and find a suitable substitute. But that is not where we want to be, is it? We don’t want to be in a relationship with God where we are making promises we can’t possibly deliver, and hoping He will be merciful and accept something else!
Because of the blood of Jesus, living sacrifices are no longer necessary from us mere mortals. But there are plenty of times we do come before God and ask for His help, promising all sorts of things in return… “Just let me lose this 10 pounds, and I promise I will give up ice cream and start jogging every day.” We tell Him, “Please heal my loved one, and I will never miss another Sunday of worship services!” We ask, “Can you just help me make it through these finals, and I promise that next semester, I will study really hard and be ready!”
When we make promises to God in return for requesting His help, we had better be ready, willing, and able to deliver. If we don’t have the courage and fortitude of Jephthah and his daughter to fully make good on our vows, we better rethink what we are asking – and how we ask for it. Is your word your bond… with people in everyday life – and especially with God? Shouldn’t it be?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 1, 2011
Proverbs 16:7
When we please the LORD, even our enemies make friends with us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my book, clear-headed, rational thinking and the ability to remain calm in trying situations are God-given attributes! And my husband has them in spades. So when I am in a situation where I would tend to “fly off the handle,” I often use him as a sounding board first. And I have to admit, I have gotten better at stopping and saying a prayer… asking God to give me the right words and actions… and thinking about what advice my husband would give me, also.
A lot of times, we are called to “take the high road,” even when what we really want to do is thump a few heads. There are always going to be people who challenge our patience… who fabricate the truth to suit their own needs… and who are, for whatever reason, just a little off their rocker! But lowering yourself to their level accomplishes nothing – and it only pleases the devil.
When you know you are right… when you know you are in God’s will and pleasing Him with your decisions and your behavior… you have nothing for which to apologize. You can stand tall and proud and politely say, “We may just have to agree to disagree” – or walk away without saying anything. When you are being attacked, ask God to give you the strength and courage to smile at your attacker and keep your cool. The first year I taught school, I had a few parents and a principal who thought I was too young and dumb to know what I was doing… and they tried to make things pretty hard on me. One of my fellow teachers said repeatedly, “Just kill ‘em with kindness.” That stuck with me… it was – and is - great advice.
God knows your heart. He knows if/when you are doing the right thing… and He knows when you are being attacked, mistreated, or disrespected. If He approves of your life, nothing else matters… and neither does the opinion of anyone else. Hold your head up… take the high road… “kill ‘em with kindness” – and let God handle the rest. Your enemies may not literally end up shaking your hand, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did not disappoint yourself… or more importantly – your Heavenly Father. Whether you realize it or not, you will have emerged the true winner – in this life and for all Eternity!
©2011 Debbie Robus
When we please the LORD, even our enemies make friends with us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my book, clear-headed, rational thinking and the ability to remain calm in trying situations are God-given attributes! And my husband has them in spades. So when I am in a situation where I would tend to “fly off the handle,” I often use him as a sounding board first. And I have to admit, I have gotten better at stopping and saying a prayer… asking God to give me the right words and actions… and thinking about what advice my husband would give me, also.
A lot of times, we are called to “take the high road,” even when what we really want to do is thump a few heads. There are always going to be people who challenge our patience… who fabricate the truth to suit their own needs… and who are, for whatever reason, just a little off their rocker! But lowering yourself to their level accomplishes nothing – and it only pleases the devil.
When you know you are right… when you know you are in God’s will and pleasing Him with your decisions and your behavior… you have nothing for which to apologize. You can stand tall and proud and politely say, “We may just have to agree to disagree” – or walk away without saying anything. When you are being attacked, ask God to give you the strength and courage to smile at your attacker and keep your cool. The first year I taught school, I had a few parents and a principal who thought I was too young and dumb to know what I was doing… and they tried to make things pretty hard on me. One of my fellow teachers said repeatedly, “Just kill ‘em with kindness.” That stuck with me… it was – and is - great advice.
God knows your heart. He knows if/when you are doing the right thing… and He knows when you are being attacked, mistreated, or disrespected. If He approves of your life, nothing else matters… and neither does the opinion of anyone else. Hold your head up… take the high road… “kill ‘em with kindness” – and let God handle the rest. Your enemies may not literally end up shaking your hand, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did not disappoint yourself… or more importantly – your Heavenly Father. Whether you realize it or not, you will have emerged the true winner – in this life and for all Eternity!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2011
Psalm 68:19-20
We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us. You always protect us and save us from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago, friends of ours purchased a house we were selling. Aside from needing more space, the couple told us that their present home was located on a busy city street, and their young 2½-year-old-son – then just a little older than our Timothy is now – was apt to dash out into the street to chase a ball or toy… or simply running with abandon. In order to keep their children safe… to protect them and save them from death… this couple made the necessary efforts to take measures to ensure their safety. The health, safety and well-being of their children was (and is) their chief concern day after day.
This is what good parents do. They put the needs of their children first… and they love them unconditionally with kindness… and protection. And as our Heavenly Father, this is what God does for each of us. He treats us with more kindness than we could ever deserve… and He protects us and keeps us safe from death. I’m not talking about physical death… although there are certainly instances where God rescues us from that, as well. But God puts obstacles… people, wisdom, discernment… angels… in our path to protect us from Spiritual death. For all of the sins we commit… for every mess we get ourselves into… God steers us away from the chance for dozens more out of His kindness and protection.
So if God is our protector, why do bad things happen? We’ve been over this! Tests and challenges lead to growth and deeper faith. They build the relationship as we learn to rely more on God’s strength and power and less upon our own. But God NEVER stops loving us… and He never stops looking out for our best interests. And for this He deserves our utmost praise.
Have you thanked God lately for all He does in your life?
©2011 Debbie Robus
We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us. You always protect us and save us from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago, friends of ours purchased a house we were selling. Aside from needing more space, the couple told us that their present home was located on a busy city street, and their young 2½-year-old-son – then just a little older than our Timothy is now – was apt to dash out into the street to chase a ball or toy… or simply running with abandon. In order to keep their children safe… to protect them and save them from death… this couple made the necessary efforts to take measures to ensure their safety. The health, safety and well-being of their children was (and is) their chief concern day after day.
This is what good parents do. They put the needs of their children first… and they love them unconditionally with kindness… and protection. And as our Heavenly Father, this is what God does for each of us. He treats us with more kindness than we could ever deserve… and He protects us and keeps us safe from death. I’m not talking about physical death… although there are certainly instances where God rescues us from that, as well. But God puts obstacles… people, wisdom, discernment… angels… in our path to protect us from Spiritual death. For all of the sins we commit… for every mess we get ourselves into… God steers us away from the chance for dozens more out of His kindness and protection.
So if God is our protector, why do bad things happen? We’ve been over this! Tests and challenges lead to growth and deeper faith. They build the relationship as we learn to rely more on God’s strength and power and less upon our own. But God NEVER stops loving us… and He never stops looking out for our best interests. And for this He deserves our utmost praise.
Have you thanked God lately for all He does in your life?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 28, 2011
James 3:17-18
Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our two cats are litter mates… sisters. Each one has “adopted” one of us, and they are both quite territorial. If Mabel comes near me, Lucy becomes grumpy. Conversely, my husband spends a lot of time in his upstairs office, and when Lucy and I “visit,” Mabel lets us know we are in her domain! The funny thing is that the cats get along at mealtime… coming together alongside their food bowls and trading off letting us know they need fresh food and water. And most meals begin or end with a mutual face washing… that is, until the hissing and fighting begins! Talk about hot/cold and two-faced! We both love each of our cats dearly, but they are as fickle as they come!
Our cats have learned to tolerate each other, mainly by establishing individual territories and seldom venturing beyond the boundary lines. And sadly, that’s how a lot of us practice our faith with regard to people we deem unlovely or “hard to love.” We tolerate them… often with visible disdain… and our boundary lines are clearly defined. They better not try to sit on our pew… or speak to us in public as if we are good friends. A quiet nod of “Hello” when we see them in the store or at church is sufficient, and the rest of the time we cut them a wide berth.
Those folks who attend a church of another denomination… or are of another race, ethnicity, socio-economic level, or lifestyle choice… are nice enough, but clearly they are not as godly as we are! We can work with them, take their money in our places of business, and expect them to provide goods and services for us. But they are not in our league when it comes to God. They better not try to be in our group at school or sit with us at ballgames or the movies. We don’t really want them on the prom planning committee or helping with Little League or the church potluck. We are not going to be giving them a ride to meet our friends any time soon.
We think we are being wise and “loving” by practicing “tolerance” of others. But we need to go deeper than this. We need to extend grace, mercy, and understanding to all people… not just those we like – those who appear to think and act like we do. The person who irritates us with his/her continual negativity may have huge struggles and heartaches we can never begin to imagine. The one who comes on strong and tries too hard may have been kicked in the gut so many times that he/she feels like no one will ever like them for who they really are. The person who appears to be so confident – even arrogant – may be incredibly insecure and defeated… and desperate for someone to love them for who they really are.
Acting as agents for Jesus Christ, we can be the difference. We can operate in God’s wisdom to treat each person we meet with dignity and honor… and in doing so, we can help to build and strengthen the community of believers. We are called to do this. We are commissioned to be peacemakers for Jesus Christ… in His name. We are told to love others as we love ourselves… and genuinely - not in performances worthy of an Academy Award.
This is hard work… but nobody ever said being a Christian was easy. We’ve gotten too comfortable with picking and choosing who we love – and like – and drawing boundary lines to separate us from the rest. It’s time we remembered that the same God who is madly in love with us is also madly in love with the other guy, too! We’re not asked to lie and pretend to like someone… we’re asked to prayerfully call on God to give us the strength and wisdom to truly be kind and accepting of others… warts and all… and to work through our differences for the greater good of His kingdom.
Earlier verses of James 3 say that… “whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.” If we want to live wisely, in the full blessings of God, we must learn to humble ourselves and make a prayerful effort to get along with others… all of them… all the time! We are not cats… we don’t get to be territorial – or fickle! How wise and humble are you these days? Are you a peacemaker in Jesus’ name?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our two cats are litter mates… sisters. Each one has “adopted” one of us, and they are both quite territorial. If Mabel comes near me, Lucy becomes grumpy. Conversely, my husband spends a lot of time in his upstairs office, and when Lucy and I “visit,” Mabel lets us know we are in her domain! The funny thing is that the cats get along at mealtime… coming together alongside their food bowls and trading off letting us know they need fresh food and water. And most meals begin or end with a mutual face washing… that is, until the hissing and fighting begins! Talk about hot/cold and two-faced! We both love each of our cats dearly, but they are as fickle as they come!
Our cats have learned to tolerate each other, mainly by establishing individual territories and seldom venturing beyond the boundary lines. And sadly, that’s how a lot of us practice our faith with regard to people we deem unlovely or “hard to love.” We tolerate them… often with visible disdain… and our boundary lines are clearly defined. They better not try to sit on our pew… or speak to us in public as if we are good friends. A quiet nod of “Hello” when we see them in the store or at church is sufficient, and the rest of the time we cut them a wide berth.
Those folks who attend a church of another denomination… or are of another race, ethnicity, socio-economic level, or lifestyle choice… are nice enough, but clearly they are not as godly as we are! We can work with them, take their money in our places of business, and expect them to provide goods and services for us. But they are not in our league when it comes to God. They better not try to be in our group at school or sit with us at ballgames or the movies. We don’t really want them on the prom planning committee or helping with Little League or the church potluck. We are not going to be giving them a ride to meet our friends any time soon.
We think we are being wise and “loving” by practicing “tolerance” of others. But we need to go deeper than this. We need to extend grace, mercy, and understanding to all people… not just those we like – those who appear to think and act like we do. The person who irritates us with his/her continual negativity may have huge struggles and heartaches we can never begin to imagine. The one who comes on strong and tries too hard may have been kicked in the gut so many times that he/she feels like no one will ever like them for who they really are. The person who appears to be so confident – even arrogant – may be incredibly insecure and defeated… and desperate for someone to love them for who they really are.
Acting as agents for Jesus Christ, we can be the difference. We can operate in God’s wisdom to treat each person we meet with dignity and honor… and in doing so, we can help to build and strengthen the community of believers. We are called to do this. We are commissioned to be peacemakers for Jesus Christ… in His name. We are told to love others as we love ourselves… and genuinely - not in performances worthy of an Academy Award.
This is hard work… but nobody ever said being a Christian was easy. We’ve gotten too comfortable with picking and choosing who we love – and like – and drawing boundary lines to separate us from the rest. It’s time we remembered that the same God who is madly in love with us is also madly in love with the other guy, too! We’re not asked to lie and pretend to like someone… we’re asked to prayerfully call on God to give us the strength and wisdom to truly be kind and accepting of others… warts and all… and to work through our differences for the greater good of His kingdom.
Earlier verses of James 3 say that… “whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.” If we want to live wisely, in the full blessings of God, we must learn to humble ourselves and make a prayerful effort to get along with others… all of them… all the time! We are not cats… we don’t get to be territorial – or fickle! How wise and humble are you these days? Are you a peacemaker in Jesus’ name?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 1, 2011
Exodus 4:10-12
Moses replied, " I have never been a good speaker. I wasn't one before you spoke to me, and I'm not one now. I am slow at speaking, and I can never think of what to say."
But the LORD answered, " Who makes people able to speak or makes them deaf or unable to speak? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Don't you know that I am the one who does these things? Now go! When you speak, I will be with you and give you the words to say."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1994, one of my classmates, Sandra, died of breast cancer. While Sandra was really never part of my “circle” in school, I became a friend of her mother’s after I graduated from college. She shared the upsetting news with me when Sandra had a biopsy that revealed cancer. We talked often as Sandra underwent surgery and treatments. I began to send cards of encouragement to Sandra, and in the weeks just before she died, I visited her in her parents’ home. I saw her for the last time in a Little Rock hospital, just hours before she died.
I was strongly impacted by Sandra’s death. Why had this single mother of two young boys been taken from them? Why not a childless person like myself? Why would God take her and leave me? Of course, I have come to understand that God has reasons we will never understand… and someday we will see that these were perfect plans. I’ve also come to understand how much God has used Sandra to change my attitudes and develop my heart for others.
In my grief and confusion over Sandra’s death, I will admit that I became almost angry with some of my friends and others who would say, “Oh, that is just so sad… but I could never go visit the family. I just don’t know what to say.” In many situations since, I’ve seen people almost literally freeze in their tracks, paralyzed with fear about what to say or do in similar situations. And while I have wonderful friends and family members who have rushed to my side when I’ve been in crisis, I’ve been on the receiving end when others did nothing.
I’m left to wonder… what do others in similar situations think? Do they automatically understand that people are frozen in fear and don’t know what to say or do? Or do they take it as a personal offense… a sign of unkindness and disrespect? When we don’t step out in faith and trust God to give us the words to speak, what do others think about our Christian witness… and worse yet, what does God think about our level of faith?
If you read the next few chapters of Exodus, you will see that God did indeed give Moses the words to say. Moses shared them with his brother Aaron, who apparently didn’t stutter and served as the family spokesman. But Moses and Aaron did what God asked them to do. The question is… are YOU doing what God asks? Are you reaching out to others and speaking on God’s behalf, trusting Him to give you the words and the courage to share them? What God did for Moses and Aaron, He stands ready to do for each of us. All we have to do is make the first move… step out in faith and reach out to those God puts in our path. Are you ready? Here we go…
©2011 Debbie Robus
Moses replied, " I have never been a good speaker. I wasn't one before you spoke to me, and I'm not one now. I am slow at speaking, and I can never think of what to say."
But the LORD answered, " Who makes people able to speak or makes them deaf or unable to speak? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Don't you know that I am the one who does these things? Now go! When you speak, I will be with you and give you the words to say."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1994, one of my classmates, Sandra, died of breast cancer. While Sandra was really never part of my “circle” in school, I became a friend of her mother’s after I graduated from college. She shared the upsetting news with me when Sandra had a biopsy that revealed cancer. We talked often as Sandra underwent surgery and treatments. I began to send cards of encouragement to Sandra, and in the weeks just before she died, I visited her in her parents’ home. I saw her for the last time in a Little Rock hospital, just hours before she died.
I was strongly impacted by Sandra’s death. Why had this single mother of two young boys been taken from them? Why not a childless person like myself? Why would God take her and leave me? Of course, I have come to understand that God has reasons we will never understand… and someday we will see that these were perfect plans. I’ve also come to understand how much God has used Sandra to change my attitudes and develop my heart for others.
In my grief and confusion over Sandra’s death, I will admit that I became almost angry with some of my friends and others who would say, “Oh, that is just so sad… but I could never go visit the family. I just don’t know what to say.” In many situations since, I’ve seen people almost literally freeze in their tracks, paralyzed with fear about what to say or do in similar situations. And while I have wonderful friends and family members who have rushed to my side when I’ve been in crisis, I’ve been on the receiving end when others did nothing.
I’m left to wonder… what do others in similar situations think? Do they automatically understand that people are frozen in fear and don’t know what to say or do? Or do they take it as a personal offense… a sign of unkindness and disrespect? When we don’t step out in faith and trust God to give us the words to speak, what do others think about our Christian witness… and worse yet, what does God think about our level of faith?
If you read the next few chapters of Exodus, you will see that God did indeed give Moses the words to say. Moses shared them with his brother Aaron, who apparently didn’t stutter and served as the family spokesman. But Moses and Aaron did what God asked them to do. The question is… are YOU doing what God asks? Are you reaching out to others and speaking on God’s behalf, trusting Him to give you the words and the courage to share them? What God did for Moses and Aaron, He stands ready to do for each of us. All we have to do is make the first move… step out in faith and reach out to those God puts in our path. Are you ready? Here we go…
©2011 Debbie Robus
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